h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ahhhh.... my student days. I remember when a package of generic macaroni and cheese cost about 25 cents (U.S) and a can of tuna, also generic, cost about 75 cents. I think this is all that I lived on, but wait! Another recipe follows.

Make this with the cheapest, most generic ingredients you can find. I'm not sure about the availability of mac & cheese outside of the U.S. I know that my European friends stockpile the stuff and hide it in their luggage from the customs dogs... but, anyway: here goes.

1 pkge cheap generic Macaroni and Cheese dinner, and the margarine and milk that it calls for.
1 can of the cheapest tunafish you can find
1 pkgw frozen mixed vegetables (store brand is nearly always cheapest)
1/4 cup cooking sherry (if you have it. It tastes fine without it.)

Equipment: 1 large pot, 1 colander, 1 sink with clean running water, 1 contraband hot plate or even more contraband burner, one spoon, one can opener, one fork, one large bowl.

Prepare the Mac & Cheese according to package directions on your hot plate, using a large pot. While the water is slowly heating, you will want to empty the contents of the package of frozen vegetables into a colander, and run them under cold water to separate and thaw them. Set aside in the bowl.

Open the can of tunafish, drain it using its lid, and then flake the tunafish into the bowl using the fork.

Mix up the vegetables and the tuna. Set aside.

Continue preparing the Mac & Cheese. When the macaroni is tender, drain the pasta into the colander, then put it back into the pot.Lower the heat underneath it. Add the milk, the margarine and the cheese mix from the package, and stir. When that's mixed up and nice and cheesy, add the tuna and vegetables, the 1/4 cup of sherry (if you have it) and mix thouroughly until heated through.

If you'd like to add more sherry, keep in mind that the alcohol blits you desire will ruin the dish. Drink it as a beverage.

This makes enough for four moderate sized servings. Eat directly from the pot with the fork for about two days (lunch and dinner).

I survived for quite a long time with tuna&macaroni (without the cheese, in Finland/Sweden macaroni&cheese-dinners are found in the "imported food"-aisle, which translates as "not cheap"). I just cooked some macaroni or spaghetti, drained it and added a can of cheapest possible tuna. If I was feeling exceptionally wealthy, I could add some frozen vegetables while the pasta was almost done. Serve with lots of ketchup (when out of money, that counts as vegetables)

This is a cheap, easy to make Macaroni Casserole, which is very popular in Finland:
You need

about 500g ground meat (usually very cheap)
some oil for frying
500g macaroni
salt, pepper
one egg
0.5-1l milk

Preheat the oven to 200C.
Cook the macaroni and drain it
While macaroni is cooking, fry the ground meat
Take a large pot (whatever it is called, something that you can place in the oven), oil it, mix macaroni and meat and fill the pot.
Beat the egg with milk, mix in some salt and pepper. Pour over the macaroni&meat. Adjust the amount of milk to cover the food.
Place the Casserole in the oven for about 45 minutes.
Serve with ketchup or some spiced tomato sauce.